National Republican., 1887-02-22
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
NO CESSATION OF WORK ON WASH
INGT0N's BIRTHDAY,
Nicaragua Ship Canal Bin and River
and Harbor Bills Passed by the Sem
ate-House VIII Meet at IL O'Clock
A, M.

Columbia river In the fall of 1886, and OF
the change in the engineer In charge OF the
work, was taken up, and Mr.. Mitchell ad-
dressed the Senate In favor Of the resolu-
tion. In the course Of his remarks he de-
nounced the conduct OF Col. John g.
Parke, colonel Of engineers, in regard to
the appropriation aud TO the change Of
local engineers as unreasonable, arbitrary,
and Illegal, not TO say tyrannical and de-
ilant." He said that "no military satrap
or dictator was ever more unreasonable,
defiant, or unjust than the record showed
Col. Parke TO be in relation to this mat
ter.n
Mr.. Conger replied to the remarks OF Mr..
Mitchell and defended Col. Parke from the
attack made upon him. He declared that,
OF all the public officers with whom his du-
ties had brought him In contact, he had
never found man who had impressed him
moro strongly than Col. Parke with the
idea OF candor, sincerity, gentlemanly con-
duct, and wonderful familiarity with all
the questions connected with river and har-
Dor improvements.
Mr.. Hawley said that he had listened
first with surprise and then with Indignation
to the unrelenting, unmerciful attack made
on Col. Parke before o tribunal where he
had no possibility OF appearing In his own
defense. II ever he knew man OF whom
asoldier, and incapable Of dlshonor. 1t was
The Senate then (at 2:4O) resumed the
confederation OF the river and harbor ap
propriation bill.
Mr.. Plumb moved to amend the Missouri
river paragraph by adding to 1t the words
sand all the expenditures of this paragraph
Secretary Of War"
Mr.. Vest said that the effect OF Mr..
Plumbs amendment would be to abolish
the Missouri river commission. II the
senator meant that, let It be distinctly un.
derstood, and let the issue be made.
Mr.. Ingalls, had no hesitation In saying
that, In his judgment, the Missouri river
commission ought to be abolished. A
more unnecessary, superfluous, and en-
tirely ornamental excrescence never ex-
isted.s 1t had shown itself to be an organi-
zation which defled the laws, and, II this
issue could be presented, he should be very
glad to vote for its immediate and uncon.
ditional abolition.
Mr.. Vest said that, II the argument Of
the senator from Kansas amounted to any
thing, II was that not only the Missouri
river commission, but also the engineer de-
partment and the Secretary Of War should
be abolished, for they had all participated
equally In what the senator described as
violations of law.
Mr.. Plumb's amendment was adopted,
and after several immaterial verbal amend
ments, the bill was reported. to the Senate
from the committee Of the whole, and was
passed without division.
A committee Of conference was asked on
the points OF difference between the two
houses. Subsequently Messrs. Mcmillan,
Copger, and Ransom were appointed con-
ferees.
The Senate then, at o'clock, took up the
bill to incorporate the Maritime Canal Com
papy Of Nicaragua.
The question as to other companies hav-
Ing charters from the Republic Of Nicaragua
was BROUGHT up BY Mr., Hoar, and, in con
American, Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal
Company as having charter from Nicara-
qua, and said that he had been informed by
the president Of the company that the
company had expended 100000 600 In sur
veys and work, and that the concession
was still in force. He sent to the clerks
desk and had read the opinion Of an emil
nent legal firm in New York, to the effect
that the right conferred upon the company
(under the contract of 1S49) survived un-
impaired. He knew that Admiral Ammen
claimed that tnat contract was terminated,
and that Mr.. FreliDghuysen, when .Secre
tary Of State, made the same claim. He
knew nothing about 1t except that the
president Of this company, Mr.. Blackburn,
had been introduced to him by member
Of the House Of Representatives, and had
been vouched for as q man Of character and
credibility. He held that Congress should
not guarantee an act Of Incorporation when
these conflicting claims were brought to its
attention.
Mr.. Edmunds denied that the United
States were, In any way, affected by what
ever might be the rights and interests Of o
New York corporation. Ii there were
conflicting rights 1t would be for the Repub-
lie Of Nicaragua to settle them. He de-
MED that any state could cut off the right
of the American nation to incorporate q
company because some state had already
incorporated another company. When the
Nicaragua treaty (for the United States to
build this canal) was under negotiation a
few years ago, these same pretensions OF
these people who had failed for thirty-f
years to do anything whatever under their
concession had been brought forward, had
been thoroughly examined by the President
Of the United States and the Secretary of
State, and had been adjudged by them to
have no foundation whatever.
Both governments, the United States and
Nicaragua, had then held that the conces.
sion had no longer any existence, either in
law or morals.
After some further remarks BY Messrs,
thereto, and he dissented entirely from the
views expressed some time ago by the sem
ator from Massachusetts (Mr. Hoar) as to
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. He denied In
toto the insinuation that this bill had been
withheld until the Eads scheme had been
put upon the calendar. 1t had been intro
duced by Senator Miller. of California,
The opposition to this bill, he said, had not
q leg to stand upon. The single question
was whether the private ambition of Mr..
Eads was to turn over the Nicaragua canal
TO the hands Of some other foreign govern
ment instead Of having 1t under the In
fuence and control Of the United States.
The bill was then passed-yeas 80, nays 8.
The nays were Messrs. Berry, Coke, Jones,
Of Arkansas; Maxey, and Vest.
The bill Incorporates Frederick Billings,
Charles p. DAILY, II. l.. Hotchkiss, Francis A.
Stout, w: b. franklin, Daniel Ammen, VIM. l..
H. McMullen, Sheppard Homans aud their as.
sociates as the Maritime Canal Company of
Nicaragua, with the principal office in New
than fifty nor more than one hundred millions.
Ten per cent. is TO be payable when subscrip-
tons TO the capital stock are made, aud future
directors may determine. The aggregate
be 70 reasonable and not 70 exceed
Ofuel and supplies included) on board any ves-
sci in transit, or not exceeding 81. per ton
actual displacement OF any steam vessel and
The United States is TO exercise such control
over the canal as provided Tor by treaty with
Nicaragua, and not inconsistant with any
treaty obligations of the United States with
any power, and Is to enjoy its unobstructed
and mails.
Ifstoek tothe amount ofslO. 600 900, be not sub.
scribed and 10 per cent, thereof actually paid
in, within two years, or II the work of con-
slruction shall not have actually commenced
ana been in progress within four years, the
corporation shall be deemed to have expired
ceased and determined.
Mr.. Riddleberger moved that, In honor
OF the memory OF the father OF his country,
the Senate adjourn over to-day. Mega.
tiyed-yeQs 1S, nays 40